Australian cruises: Liberal MP Warren Entsch backs domestic industry restart

Australia’s cruise industry has won the support of a federal government MP who has called Greg Hunt to get vessels sailing again.

Australian cruise operators have won the backing of a federal government MP who has pledged to fight for a restart of the domestic industry.

Queensland Liberal Warren Entsch on Thursday wrote to Tourism Minister Dan Tehan and Health Minister Greg Hunt after he recently met with cruise industry delegates.

In the letter, Mr Entsch said he is seeking his colleagues’ support to get cruises sailing in local waters once more.

He said cruise suppliers representing fresh produce growers, travel agents, tour operators, marine engineering services and entertainers, had travelled to Parliament House to meet with him, and it had taken them “great courage” to share their personal stories.

Queensland Liberal MP Warren Entsch has written to Tourism Minister Dan Tehan and Health Minister Greg Hunt asking for their support to restart the domestic cruise industry. Picture: Supplied

“While many of these businesses were grateful for the support of JobKeeper, it has been a difficult 15 months since their businesses vanished overnight with the suspension of cruising,” Mr Entsch wrote.

“Some are living off retirement savings and others are facing critical decisions in the survival of their businesses.”

He said it was time for the federal government, who recently hit the industry with another three month pause, to create a framework to allow for the return of domestic cruising within Australia.

“In discussions with the industry, it is apparently it will take operators about three months to return to service – even if approval were given tomorrow,” he wrote.

“What cruise lines are looking for is the authorities to speak with them directly – and in detail – so they can understand the pathway back.”

In an interview, Mr Entsch said he hoped the federal government would lift the ban before the end of the three month period.

The cruise industry has been marred from the early days of the pandemic. Incidents such as the Diamond Princess outbreak — where 712 out of 3711 people on board contracted Covid — and the Ruby Princess — which was linked to at least 900 infections and 28 deaths after 2650 passengers were allowed to disembark in Sydney despite suspected cases on board — have led some to label ships as “floating Petri dishes”.

The Ruby Princess at Circular Quay in Sydney in March, 2020. Picture: AAP

“We’d be silly to think that lessons have not been learned from these things,” Mr Entsch said.

“Do we banish them (the cruise industry) into the back of the room forever? Or do we say, ‘rightio, we’ve got to deal with this, and we’ve got to support this industry and we’ve got to get it back’.”

The Cruise Lines International Association wants the federal government to green light a domestic cruise bubble first, which would allow it to run limited itineraries within local waters for Australian passengers only.

It then hopes this could be expanded to include a trans-Tasman bubble.

Strict health protocols developed by the CLIA, and adhered to by brands who are members of the Association, would require passengers and crew to return a negative Covid test result before boarding. They also cover crew quarantine, distancing, sanitation and health monitoring.

“I see no reason why we can’t take a cruise to New Zealand when we can already fly there,” Mr Entsch said.

“There’s also no reason we can’t explore the possibility of doing Antarctic cruises.”

Carnival Australia, who is understood to have led the delegation that met with Mr Entsch, said it welcomed his interest “in relation to a restart of domestic cruising”.

Mr Tehan and Mr Hunt have been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Australian cruises: Liberal MP Warren Entsch backs domestic industry restart